Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Geoffrey Riccio
Northwestern Sends Pair To Quarterfinals On First Day Of NCAA Championships
3/16/2023 10:02:00 PM | Wrestling
‘Cats have six alive in consolation bracket
TULSA, Okla. (March 16, 2023) – Yahya Thomas (149 pounds) and Lucas Davison (285 pounds) secured quarterfinal-round berths as Northwestern wrestling opened competition at the NCAA Championships today inside the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla.
Thomas got his day off to a red-hot start against Nate Higley (George Mason), jumping in front seconds in as part of a comprehensive 12-3 major decision win that saw him accumulate over three minutes of riding time. The Chicago, Ill. native gained a measure of revenge in his second-round tilt with Michael Blockhus (Minnesota), avenging a defeat at the hands of the Golden Gopher at the Big Ten Championships by way of a 3-1 triumph in sudden victory.
Davison followed a similar script to Thomas in his opening bout of the day, using a takedown and two-point near fall in the first period to build an early lead on his way to a 6-1 decision over Boone McDermott (Rutgers). Out of Chesterton, Ind., Davison willed his way to a 2-1 win against Sam Schuyler (Iowa State) to earn a spot in the quarterfinals.
Michael DeAugustino (125 pounds), Chris Cannon (133 pounds), Frankie Tal-Shahar (141 pounds), Trevor Chumbley (157 pounds), Troy Fisher (174 pounds), and Andrew Davison (197 pounds) still find themselves alive on the consolation side of the bracket.
Fisher and Tal-Shahar both notched opening-round upsets. Battling No. 14 Brandon Pasiuk (Army), Fisher scored a takedown in sudden victory to wrap up a thrilling 10-8 decision. Tal-Shahar had a similar flare for the dramatic against No. 15 Tom Crook (Virginia Tech), picking up a win in sudden victory of his own by a 3-1 final.
Wrestling in his first NCAA Championships, Chumbley turned in a workman-like effort in the first round, outdistancing Cael Swensen (South Dakota State), 6-3.
DeAugustino and Cannon each bounced back from first-round setbacks with wins in their first consolation matches. DeAugustino found himself locked up in a tight battle with No. 5 Caleb Smith (Appalachian State), only to use a late takedown and near fall to secure a 7-2 win. Cannon flexed his muscle against Gable Strickland (Lock Haven), turning in a dominant effort in a 12-0 major decision.
Andrew Davison capped off the night in style for the 'Cats. After registering a 9-1 major decision over Cole Urbas (Penn) in a consolation preliminary, Davison willed his way to victory in his second match of the session, grinding his way past Cameron Caffey (Michigan State), 3-2.
Friday's action at the NCAA Championships kicks off at 11 a.m. with Session III, which will feature quarterfinal-round bouts and the second and third rounds the consolation bracket. The semifinals, blood round, and fourth round of consolation action will feature as part of Session IV at 7 p.m.
A listing of Northwestern's results from the first day of the NCAA Championships follows.
125
Champ. Round 1 - Jore Volk (Wyoming) won in sudden victory - 1 over Michael DeAugustino (Northwestern) (SV-1 3-1)
Cons. Round 1 - Michael DeAugustino (Northwestern) won by decision over Caleb Smith (Appalachian State) (Dec 7-2)
133
Champ. Round 1 - Chance Rich (CSU Bakersfield) won by decision over Chris Cannon (Northwestern) (Dec 6-5)
Cons. Round 1 - Chris Cannon (Northwestern) won by major decision over Gable Strickland (Lock Haven) (MD 12-0)
141
Champ. Round 1 - Frankie Tal-Shahar (Northwestern) won in sudden victory - 1 over Tom Crook (Virginia Tech) (SV-1 3-1)Champ. Round 2 - Andrew Alirez (Northern Colorado) won by decision over Frankie Tal-Shahar (Northwestern) (Dec 8-5)
149Champ. Round 2 - Yahya Thomas (Northwestern) won in sudden victory - 1 over Michael Blockhus (Minnesota) (SV-1 3-1)
157Champ. Round 2 - Jared Franek (North Dakota State) won by decision over Trevor Chumbley (Northwestern) (Dec 5-3)
165Cons. Round 1 - Wyatt Sheets (Oklahoma State) won by decision over Maxx Mayfield (Northwestern) (Dec 7-2)
174Champ. Round 2 - Mekhi Lewis (Virginia Tech) won by decision over Troy Fisher (Northwestern) (Dec 5-4)
197
Cons. Prelim - Andrew Davison (Northwestern) won by major decision over Cole Urbas (Pennsylvania) (MD 9-1)Cons. Round 1 - Andrew Davison (Northwestern) won by decision over Cameron Caffey (Michigan State) (Dec 3-2)
285
Champ. Round 2 - Lucas Davison (Northwestern) won by decision over Sam Schuyler (Iowa State) (Dec 2-1)
Team Standings
1. Penn State - 26.0
2. Iowa - 21.5
3. Missouri - 17.5
4. Minnesota - 16.5
5. North Carolina State - 16.5
6. Cornell - 15.5
7. Nebraska - 15.5
8. Michigan - 14.5
9. Ohio State - 14.5
10. Arizona State - 13.0
13. Northwestern - 12.0
Gallery: (3-16-2023) NCAA Wrestling Championships Day 1
Thomas got his day off to a red-hot start against Nate Higley (George Mason), jumping in front seconds in as part of a comprehensive 12-3 major decision win that saw him accumulate over three minutes of riding time. The Chicago, Ill. native gained a measure of revenge in his second-round tilt with Michael Blockhus (Minnesota), avenging a defeat at the hands of the Golden Gopher at the Big Ten Championships by way of a 3-1 triumph in sudden victory.
149 lbs | @yahyat_prime is on his way to the quarterfinals after defeating Michael Blockhus (MINN) in sudden victory, 3-1!#GoCats | #NCAAWrestling pic.twitter.com/HwqnlD9QgK
— Northwestern Wrestling (@NUWrestle) March 17, 2023
Davison followed a similar script to Thomas in his opening bout of the day, using a takedown and two-point near fall in the first period to build an early lead on his way to a 6-1 decision over Boone McDermott (Rutgers). Out of Chesterton, Ind., Davison willed his way to a 2-1 win against Sam Schuyler (Iowa State) to earn a spot in the quarterfinals.
285 lbs | @LucasDavison grinds out a 2-1 win over Sam Schuyler (Iowa St.) to secure a quarterfinal-round berth! #GoCats | #NCAAWrestling pic.twitter.com/HL5qFfmrGa
— Northwestern Wrestling (@NUWrestle) March 17, 2023
Michael DeAugustino (125 pounds), Chris Cannon (133 pounds), Frankie Tal-Shahar (141 pounds), Trevor Chumbley (157 pounds), Troy Fisher (174 pounds), and Andrew Davison (197 pounds) still find themselves alive on the consolation side of the bracket.
Fisher and Tal-Shahar both notched opening-round upsets. Battling No. 14 Brandon Pasiuk (Army), Fisher scored a takedown in sudden victory to wrap up a thrilling 10-8 decision. Tal-Shahar had a similar flare for the dramatic against No. 15 Tom Crook (Virginia Tech), picking up a win in sudden victory of his own by a 3-1 final.
Wrestling in his first NCAA Championships, Chumbley turned in a workman-like effort in the first round, outdistancing Cael Swensen (South Dakota State), 6-3.
DeAugustino and Cannon each bounced back from first-round setbacks with wins in their first consolation matches. DeAugustino found himself locked up in a tight battle with No. 5 Caleb Smith (Appalachian State), only to use a late takedown and near fall to secure a 7-2 win. Cannon flexed his muscle against Gable Strickland (Lock Haven), turning in a dominant effort in a 12-0 major decision.
Andrew Davison capped off the night in style for the 'Cats. After registering a 9-1 major decision over Cole Urbas (Penn) in a consolation preliminary, Davison willed his way to victory in his second match of the session, grinding his way past Cameron Caffey (Michigan State), 3-2.
Friday's action at the NCAA Championships kicks off at 11 a.m. with Session III, which will feature quarterfinal-round bouts and the second and third rounds the consolation bracket. The semifinals, blood round, and fourth round of consolation action will feature as part of Session IV at 7 p.m.
A listing of Northwestern's results from the first day of the NCAA Championships follows.
125
Champ. Round 1 - Jore Volk (Wyoming) won in sudden victory - 1 over Michael DeAugustino (Northwestern) (SV-1 3-1)
Cons. Round 1 - Michael DeAugustino (Northwestern) won by decision over Caleb Smith (Appalachian State) (Dec 7-2)
133
Champ. Round 1 - Chance Rich (CSU Bakersfield) won by decision over Chris Cannon (Northwestern) (Dec 6-5)
Cons. Round 1 - Chris Cannon (Northwestern) won by major decision over Gable Strickland (Lock Haven) (MD 12-0)
141
Champ. Round 1 - Frankie Tal-Shahar (Northwestern) won in sudden victory - 1 over Tom Crook (Virginia Tech) (SV-1 3-1)
149
157
165
174
197
Cons. Prelim - Andrew Davison (Northwestern) won by major decision over Cole Urbas (Pennsylvania) (MD 9-1)
285
Team Standings
1. Penn State - 26.0
2. Iowa - 21.5
3. Missouri - 17.5
4. Minnesota - 16.5
5. North Carolina State - 16.5
6. Cornell - 15.5
7. Nebraska - 15.5
8. Michigan - 14.5
9. Ohio State - 14.5
10. Arizona State - 13.0
13. Northwestern - 12.0
Players Mentioned
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